State raises terrorism charges against former JSC member Saleem and Afrasheem murder suspect Azlif

State has raised terrorism charges against lawyer and former member of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Mohamed Saleem (Reynis Saleem) and against Azlif Raoof, one of the suspects for the murder of prominent religious scholar and MP Dr Afrasheem Ali, for threatening and coercing people in March this year.

Police have also raised terrorism charges, for the same incident, against 26-year-old Mohamed Hamid of Irak, Meedhoo, Addu City, 29-year-old Ubaidhulla Saeed of Autumn Villa, Haa Alif Dhiddhoo and 42-year-old Abdulla Unais of G. Moonlight View, Kaafu Male’.

Prosecutor General’s Office revealed that the five men have been charged under Article 2 (g), Article 3 and Article 6 (b) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Article 2 (g) states that the use of terror tactics, force or making threats to cause harm or damage to persons or property orally or in writing or other means to create fear amongst the community shall be construed as acts of terrorism.

Article 3 states that the aid or abet of any form, through finance or property, or planning of any act as stipulated under Section 2 shall be construed as an act of terrorism itself.

Article 6 (b) states that any persons found guilty of an act of terrorism, without a loss of life, shall be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years imprisonment or banishment and that the same penalty shall be passed on those found guilty of complicity in the crime. It also states that persons found guilty of abetting and privy to such information shall be sentenced to between 3 and 7 years imprisonment or banishment.

The first hearing for the case was cancelled after being scheduled for 10:00 a.m. today.